51 research outputs found
Piloting a telemetric data tracking system to assess post-training real driving performance of young novice drivers
Get PDFEvaluating the effects of driver training interventions is a difficult research task. The ultimate goal of such interventions is to make the driver safer and therefore less likely to be involved in a road crash. A particular driver training intervention can only be considered to be effective if it can show a significant reduction in the number crashes for the driver, or a significant change in driver behaviour that clearly implies safer driving. Getting accurate and comprehensive crash records is difficult and to measure post training behavioural driving changes based on selfreports (e.g., log books) may not be accurate enough to be statistically meaningful
Myofibrillar Protein Turnover in Feed-Restricted and Realimented Beef Cattle
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to determine the effect of feed restriction and repletion on myofibrillar protein turnover in cattle. Crossbred steer calves (n = 12) about 310 d of age were assigned randomly to a diet of corn and silage that was 1) provided ad libitum for 146 d (ALC) or 2) restricted so steers gained .2 kg/d for 80 d but received ad libitum access to feed thereafter for 66 d (RFC). At 27, 55, 97, 118 and 146 d a 24-h urine sample and a blood sample were obtained. Urine was analyzed for Nτ-methylhistidine Nτ-MH), creatinine (C), urea nitrogen (UN) and total nitrogen (TN). Serum samples were analyzed for hydroxyproliine (HYF\u27), C and albumin (A). Body weights were lower (P \u3c .05) in RFC at 55, 97, 118 and 146 d. Excretion of Nτ-MH was lower (P \u3c .05) in the RFC at 27 and 55 d but higher at 118 d Urinary C excretion was higher in ALC at the last four sample times. Urinary UN and TN excretion were lower (P \u3c .05) in RFC at 55, 97 and 118 d; urinary UN also was lower (P \u3c .05) at d 146. Serum A was higher (P \u3c .05) in ALC at 55 and 118 d, respectively. Serum HYP was higher (P \u3c .05) in RFC at 27 and 55 d. Calculated myofibrillar protein breakdown rates (FBR) and fractional synthesis rates (FSR) were higher (P \u3c .05) in RFC at the last two sampling periods; FSR was lower for the RFC at the first sampling period. Realimentation after a period of feed restriction increased both synthesis and degradation of myofibrillar protein in beef cattle
The charitable work of the Macclesfield silk manufacturers, 1750-1900
Get PDFThe existing literature on philanthropic effort during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries has taken a number of different approaches to the subject. These include general works charting the development of the charitable sector, the exploration of voluntary organisations as a subsidiary topic to broader themes and regional studies adopting a range of perspectives. Most research in this latter category has been conducted on large towns and cities that generally have copious amounts of source material. In contrast, lesser provincial towns have received relatively little scholarly attention, despite the more manageable nature of their documentation. The aim of this thesis is to explore the growth of charitable organisations within Macclesfield, an East Cheshire industrial town that was dominated by the silk industry. This study concentrates on the period from 1750 to 1900, when the silk industry was dominant within the town and philanthropic activity was at its height. The town?s silk manufacturers were renowned for their charitable work and thus this research focuses on the extent to which this occupational group was critical in the development of Macclesfield?s voluntary institutions, the motives that lay behind their contributions, and their achievements. In order to see whether their involvement was typical of other businessmen, comparisons are drawn throughout with the charitable activities of contemporary entrepreneurs in a variety of urban settings.This study investigates the silk manufacturers? participation in Macclesfield?s voluntary institutions in the fields of religion, education, public services and public amenities, together with any additional charitable acts. The evidence from all these areas suggests that in most cases the silk manufacturers were heavily involved in funding and managing these institutions. Their obvious motives reflected altruistic, religious and educational beliefs, but there were also a variety of other concerns that could have been contributory in determining their support for particular institutions. The primary achievement of Macclesfield?s voluntary sector was to provide a network of services that, in conjunction with later state initiatives, improved living standards for inhabitants by the end of the nineteenth century.This thesis gives an insight into the development of charitable institutions in a medium sized industrial town and demonstrates how one group of businessmen were able to dominate this field. Many silk manufacturers were generous in their support of charitable causes in Macclesfield, but the scale of their support did not match that of some other notable philanthropic families, such as the Crossleys of Halifax. The charitable work of the silk manufacturers appeared to be broadly similar to that of entrepreneurs in other small and medium sized industrial towns where they could form a dominant occupational group in public life. In larger towns and cities, this strong manufacturer influence was less evident and a greater range of other people contributed significantly to philanthropic institutions. This type of approach supplements the existing material on philanthropic effort during the long nineteenth century and overlaps a number of related subject areas, such as urban ?lite activity and the growth of the welfare state.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
TiO2/MoO2 nanocomposite as anode materials for high power Li-ion batteries with exceptional capacity
Get PDFNanoparticles of molybdenum(IV) oxide (MoO 2 ) and a TiO 2 /MoO 2 nanocomposite were synthesised via a continuous hydrothermal synthesis process. Both powders were analysed using XRD, XPS, TEM, and BET and evaluated as active materials in anodes for Li-ion half-cells. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements were carried out in the potential window of 0.1 to 3.0 V vs. Li/Li+. Specific capacities of ca. 350 mAh g -1 were obtained for both materials at low specific currents (0.1 A g -1 ); TiO 2 /MoO 2 composite electrodes showed superior rate behaviour & stability under cycling (compared to MoO 2 ), with stable specific capacities of ca. 265 mAh g -1 at a specific current of 0.5 A g -1 and ca. 150 mAh g -1 after 350 cycles at a specific current of 2.5 A g -1 . The improved performance of the composite material, compared to MoO 2 , was attributed to a smaller particle size, improved stability to volume changes (during cycling), and lower charge transfer resistance during cycling. Li-ion hybrid electrochemical capacitors using TiO 2 /MoO 2 composite anodes and activated carbon (AC) cathodes were evaluated and showed excellent performance with an energy density of 44 Wh kg -1 at a power density of 600 W kg -1
The sequential continuous-flow hydrothermal synthesis of molybdenum disulphide
Get PDFMolybdenum disulphide (MoS2) has been widely used as a catalyst and high temperature lubricant. It has been heavily researched recently as a graphene analogue and member of the so-called inorganic fullerenes. Here we report the first continuous flow hydrothermal synthesis of MoS2. With fast reaction times and flexibility the continuous flow hydrothermal system allowed MoS2 to be produced in a stepwise fashion, offering an insight into the mechanism involved. It has been found that the synthesis of MoS2 proceeded via the sulphidation of molybdate anions to thiomolybdate species, which are transformed to amorphous MoS3 by acidification in flow, before further hydrothermal treatment decomposes this amorphous precursor to tangled MoS2 nanosheets
- …
